The Dow Chemical Company

Dow Global Technolgoies LLC

David L Trent

George J Quarderer, Jr

Cheryl A Tirtowidjojo

David Gordon Barton

Larry N Ito

Danil Tirtowidjojo

Erik J Stewart

Curtis N Swisher

Heiko Weiner

Robert G Bowman

Paul Aaron Gillis

Sandeep Singh Dhingra

Robert P Shirtum

Douglas C Greminger

Keith Jeffrey Watson

Kim G Bargeron

David J Koranek

Joseph D Henry

Jon H Siddall

Susan J Siler

Lanny Robbins

Rick C Schroden

Anil J Mehta

Katherine Pividal

Sandeep Dhingra

Rick Schroden

Jon Siddall

A process and catalyst for the hydro-oxidation of an olefin having three or more carbon atoms, such as propylene, to form an olefin oxide, such as propylene oxide. The process involves contacting the olefin with oxygen in the presence of hydrogen and a hydro-oxidation catalyst under reaction conditions; the catalyst comprising gold nanoparticles deposited on a nanoporous titanium-containing support, prepared by depositing a gold-ligand cluster complex onto the support to form a catalyst precursor, and then heating and/or chemically treating the catalyst precursor to form the hydro-oxidation catalyst composition. The hydro-oxidation catalyst exhibits stabilized catalyst activity, enhanced lifetime, and improved hydrogen efficiency.

Hydro-oxidation process using a catalyst prepared from a gold cluster complex

An integrated process providing for a gas phase hydro-oxidation of an olefin, preferably, propylene, with oxygen in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst under reaction conditions such as to form a gaseous hydro-oxidation effluent stream containing an olefin oxide product, preferably, propylene oxide, water, unconverted olefin, oxygen, and hydrogen; and further providing for separation and recovery of the olefin oxide product from the effluent stream. The separation involves feeding the hydro-oxidation effluent stream into a first distillation column employing a liquid reflux rectification agent to obtain a first overhead stream containing unconverted olefin, oxygen, and hydrogen, which is recycled to the hydro-oxidation reactor, and a first bottoms stream containing water and the olefin oxide, from which upon further separation a purified olefin oxide product is recovered.

Integrated hydro-oxidation process with separation of an olefin oxide product stream

A method of reclaiming a titanosilicate from a deactivated or spent oxidation catalyst containing a titanosilicate having deposited thereon one or more catalytic metals, such as gold, and optionally, one or more promoter metals, the method involving treating the deactivated catalyst with an oxidant; contacting the oxidant-treated catalyst with acid, preferably aqua regia; washing the titanosilicate to remove residual acid; and optionally drying and/or calcining. A method of reconstituting an active oxidation catalyst from a spent or deactivated oxidation catalyst, the method involving reclaiming the titanosilicate as noted above, and then depositing one or more catalytic metals and, optionally, one or more promoter metals onto the reclaimed titanosilicate.

Reclamation of a titanosilicate, and reconstitution of an active oxidation catalyst

This invention is a method for forming hypohalous acid in a mass transfer device. The method comprises: (1) feeding into the device a stream of caustic solution comprising at least one alkali or alkaline earth metal of a hydroxide, oxide, hypohalite, bicarbonate, or carbonate; (2) feeding a stream comprising halogen gas into the device; (3) reacting at least some of the halogen gas with the caustic solution to form a solution containing hypohalous acid; (4) desorbing the hypohalous acid from the solution and into the stream of halogen gas; and (5) removing the stream of halogen gas from the device. In this method, the mass transfer device comprises a porous rotor which is permeable to the streams, and is rotated about an axis such that the streams flow through the rotor and the stream of caustic solution flows radially outward from the axis.

Method for synthesis of hypohalous acid

Shear mixing apparatuses and associated methods are disclosed for producing small gas bubbles of a diameter of less than about 0.1 millimeters in a liquid, whereby mass transfer of the gas into the liquid is improved (as compared to the mass transfer achieved by conventional large bubble generators under the same circumstances) in applications benefiting by such improved mass transfer, involving injecting a gas under pressure via one or more orifices into a liquid that is flowing at a velocity sufficient to cause bubbles formed at the orifice(s) to subdivide to the desired small bubble size.

Shear mixing apparatus and use thereof

A process of preparing alkylene oxides comprises steps of: (1) optionally forming a hypochlorite solution; (2) contacting chlorine with a solution of a hypochlorite below about 60.degree. C., and a pH of less than about 5.5, with sufficient micromixing to achieve a product hypochlorous acid in a yield of at least about 80 percent; (3) separating at least a portion the hypochlorous acid from an aqueous metal chloride solution wherein the solution is sprayed as droplets; (4) distilling the remaining liquid phase; (5) absorbing the hypochlorous acid and dichlorine monoxide in low-chlorides water to produce a low-chlorides aqueous hypochlorous acid solution; (6) contacting the low-chlorides aqueous hypochlorous acid solution with an olefin in a continuous process to form a olefin chlorohydrin; (7) optionally contacting the olefin chlorohydrin with a base to form a alkylene oxide and a salt solution; and (8) optionally separating the alkylene oxide from the salt solution. (9) optionally removing chlorates from the chloride brine by contacting the chlorates with acid to convert the chlorates to chlorine; and (10) optionally recycling the chlorine. The process yields particularly high yields of the alkylene oxide without substantial production of by-products.

Process for preparing alkylene oxides

Described herein is a method for producing epoxides which is continuous, inhibits formation of chlorinated byproducts, and eliminates or substantially reduces waste water discharge. The method includes:

Method for producing epoxides

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Lake Jackson, TX, United States of America

David L Trent